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Today was quite momentous. After 21 years of sitting in my parents garage, my very first car has gone off to the workshop for a rebuild - and sadly, it really needs it.

I got this car when it was 5 years old, having bought it off my parents, who in turn bought it new. I remember the day we collected it from City Motors in Oxford in 1978. This car was my pride and joy, so much so that it was used as the bridal car at my wedding. Sometime after the wedding, we drove it into the garage with the expectation that in a few years time it would become tax exempt - which of course it never did!

So here it is today - minus all chrome work and lights, off on an 80 mile journey from Brighton to Egham.
on the loader


Sitting looking a bit sad outside the workshop


ditto

So now it is being rebuilt, remaining red but I want a deeper red. Also am thinking of putting a more modern engine and box in it - still 1300 though (Suzuki???? - Jon - thoughts?)

Expected to take about a year to do the bodywork and then a good few months to do the mechanicals. It seems a long time, but after 21 years, that's almost trivial. Then - I will have my car back - and I cannot wait!

Excellent, and only one owner. Now thats a real 'Classic'. No digging around trying to find the history of the car, you know the history.

Brilliant.

Bob

Good to hear Maz, whats the reg?

Peter

He he. Peter you already have it in the register. Sadly it isn't new to the club or the list.

Cheers Bob. Yes, this car featured a lot in my life: learnt to drive in it, took my test in it, proposed to my wife in it! Not quite one owner as it was my mum's before me, but one family has owned it. Who knows, maybe one of my kids will get it when I shuffle off!

Maybe one of the kids was "made" in it????

Ooh, City Motors - I can't find the history at the moment, but I'm pretty sure that's where my Firenza came from.

That's quite a personal history, well done on keeping hold of it for so long. Must have been a few times when you thought you may as well just sell it on? Gives me hope for the wreck of a Mini that's been sitting in my parents garage for 3 years.

Thanks. Funny enough there was never pressure from me to forget about it. Most pressure came from my family who appeared to be a bit resentful that my parents let me put it there in the first place!

Looking at the car now, it's not the same car I put in there 21 years ago. The garage had a leak so it has deteriorated and some of the repairs made in the 80s were not very good quality, so when I pulled it out, there was a heart-sinking moment. But it's all about how badly you want it and for me, this car is something that is important to me for so many reasons.

I can't afford a total bare metal rebuild but if this makes it look good, be safe and usable, then that's good enough for now. If it means in 15 - 20 years when I might have more money than I do now, that I can do a full rebuild properly, then it's something to look forward to.

Good luck with your mini - if you want it badly enough, nothing will stop you.

Mazzo - most marriages dont last 21 yrs
Another project gets the green light - nice one.
With regards engine conversion - i understand you want to keep it at 1300 for tax purposes (being as the rolling 25 yr exemption didnt materialize !) Not sure i can help - im no expert on the Suzuki engines - just learning as i go along .
If i was stuck with a 1300 though i would go for an early Swift GTI unit - its DOHC and the bottom end has a stronger crank / pistons and rods. - It will mate up directly with an SJ413 5 speed box. And yes it was injected
Might be a lot less hassle just to fit a type 9 box with the adapted 1256 bellhousing ala Craig's brilliant conversion.
Depends on what you want to achieve i suppose

Good luck with this current project
Jon

Cheers Jon

I think I'm after reliability more than anything else and possibly a bit better fuel consumption. I like the 1256 because I know it very well but there is something appealing about a newer engine that has a 5 speed box. The thought of fuel injection worries me a bit because of the changes to the tank etc but I don't know enough about it to rule it out completely.

Still, I've got time to think. I'm not expecting this back until 12 months or more from now.